Which Craft Laser Cutter is Best? A Comparison of Glowforge Aura and xTool M1

Thinking about purchasing a craft laser cutter? Here’s a thorough comparison of the Glowforge Aura and xTool M1: both laser cutters that I own.

I am so fortunate because I own both the Glowforge Aura Craft Laser and xTool M1 Laser Engraver. #HappyCrafter I am.

I was gifted both of these lasers (by Glowforge and xTool, respectively), but I want you to know that neither company has sponsored this post and that all opinions I share are my own.

These are expensive pieces of equipment, and I want you to be able to make the best purchasing decision possible! So, read on and feel free to ask any questions in the comments!

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please read my disclosure policy.

What are the Glowforge Aura and xTool M1?

If you’re not familiar with these machines, both the Glowforge Aura and xTool M1 are laser machines that let you cut, engrave, and score many types of materials.

They’re different from electronic cutting machines like a Cricut, for example, because they don’t use a blade (*except for certain materials in the xTool M1 – more on that later), but instead cut, engrave, and score with a laser.

This means you don’t need any sticky cutting mats or blade replacements (unless you use the blade feature of the M1 – again, more on that later!).

Using a laser, as opposed to a blade, leads to cleaner cuts, the ability to cut more intricate designs, and the ability to work with materials a blade cannot always accommodate (like leather, wood, and acrylic, for example).

Both of these laser cutters open up a huge realm of possibility for crafters and small business owners. There are so many ways to expand crafting capabilities with these types of machines!

Comparison of xTool M1 and Glowforge Aura

I thought long and hard about the information I’d want to know if I were deciding which craft laser to purchase, and I’ve written about all of those factors in this post. If there’s something you’re wondering about that’s not included, please comment at the bottom!

What’s the price of the Glowforge Aura and the xTool M1?

At the time of publication (October 2023), the Glowforge Aura retails for $1199. The Personal Air Filter (which I HIGHLY recommend purchasing), is an additional $399.99. This brings the total cost for Glowforge equipment to $1598.99.

The xTool M1 retails for less at $1099. But, the xTool Smoke Purifier (which I also recommend you buy – just as is the case with the Aura), is an additional $799. This brings the total cost of xTool M1 equipment to $1898.

Is a filter required for the Aura or the M1?

Neither the Aura nor the M1 requires use of a separate filtering device, AS LONG AS YOU PROPERLY VENT the machines out of a window and/or use them outside.

In my opinion, it’s easier said than done to properly vent out of a window. I tried that with the xTool M1 for awhile (you can read more about that in the post about my experience with the xTool M1). Not only was it very energy inefficient for my home, but the smell of burning wood lingered inside, even with the window open.

If you choose to vent either of these machines out of a window, I recommend checking their community groups (on Facebook, for example), for proven ways to properly vent and fan the devices.

If you’re able to buy the Personal Air Filter for the Glowforge Aura or the Smoke Purifier for the xTool, I recommend doing that instead.

What type of laser is the Glowforge Aura and the xTool M1?

Here we’re entering the scientific portion of our program. Wink wink. You may not think the type of laser matters to you, but it should because it can impact the types of materials you can cut and what you’re able to do with your craft laser.

The Glowforge Aura uses a 6-watt diode laser. This is different from the other Glowforge models, which use much more powerful 40-watt and 45-watt C02 lasers.

Similarly, the xTool M1 also uses a diode laser, but it is higher wattage at 10-watts. This means it should have faster cutting and engraving times, and be more efficient than the Aura.

Importantly, for both the Aura and M1, because they are diode lasers there are limitations on the colors or types of acrylic that can be used. Diode lasers cannot cut or engrave blue acrylic or clear acrylic, and generally, dark and opaque acrylic colors work best.

While there are some tricks for cutting translucent, blue, clear, and/or light acrylics with diode lasers, those are not foolproof. So, just be aware of this!

What materials work with Aura and M1 craft laser?

With that understanding of how diode lasers work with acrylic, it’s important to know that both Aura and M1 can cut a wide variety of materials that every crafter will find useful!

Popular Materials Compatible With These Craft Lasers

This is not an exhaustive list, but it will give you a great idea of the most popular types of materials that are compatible with both Glowforge Aura and xTool M1:

• wood
• acrylic (certain colors and thicknesses)
• laser-safe vinyl (for cutting with the laser function); regular vinyl (ONLY XTool M1 when using the blade function)
• leather (must be laser-safe vinyl)
• slate (engrave only)
• paper materials (cardboard, cardstock)
• felt
• metal (certain types for engraving only)

You can find a more thorough list of Aura-compatible materials on the product landing page, and a more complete list of M1-compatible materials on its product landing page (you have to scroll down a lot).

Material Thickness

The Aura is able to cut materials up to 1/4″ thick. It can engrave materials up to 3/4″ high. And finally, it can fit materials measuring 12″ x 12″ inside the machine. Aura’s passthrough slot lets you work with materials that are longer than that, though, which is a huge asset to this small machine.

The M1 is able to cut materials up to 8mm in thickness (which is just over 1/4″ thick). As for engraving, I cannot find an official measurement anywhere as to the maximum height the M1 can accommodate for engraving! I did find that if you add the optional Riser Base you can engrave materials up to 120 mm high (which is around 4.7 inches). Finally, the M1 can fit materials measuring 385 mm x 300 mm inside the machine (which is approximately 15″ x 12″).

Cylindrical and Spherical Objects

If engraving objects like tumblers, rings, balls, and rolling pins (among others!), is important for you, only the xTool M1 is able to do that (not the Glowforge Aura). However, you must purchase the xTool RA2 Pro attachment separately (retails at $319 at time of publication), to have that capability.

What software is compatible with Glowforge Aura and xTool M1?

Both the Aura and the M1 use their companies’ respective software or apps.

Glowforge Aura works with the Glowforge App, which is not actually an app you download on your device, but instead is accessed through the internet. There are two versions: free and premium.

The Premium Glowforge app is $50 per month or $239 per year, and gives you extra features like unlimited design storage, faster processing times, thousands of free designs in the Glowforge catalog, DXF file processing, and 20% off Proofgrade materials. (Proofgrade materials are Glowforge’s premium quality materials that are guaranteed to work with Glowforge models. The cut, engrave, or score settings automatically populate when using these materials, which makes them incredibly user-friendly.)

The free version of the app does not have as many bells and whistles. It also does not allow you to store your projects in the app (which means you’ll need to store files in the cloud or on your computer), and limits you to file sizes under 100k. This can be frustrating, especially for people who are not tech-savvy. If this is you, I recommend the Premium subscription for Aura. You will want to add that extra cost into your pros and cons list!

As for xTool M1, there is only one level of software and it is free! xTool Creative Space doesn’t offer upgrades like Glowforge Premium does (for example, faster processing), but you can do all of the same things if you have the tech know-how. Unlike Glowforge, xTool Creative Space is an actual app you download to your device.

How large are these craft lasers?

In my opinion, one of the big benefits of both the Aura and the M1 is their smaller size. They are much less intrusive than larger laser cutters! Glowforge even goes so far as to call the Aura “portable” – but it’s not like you’d pack it in your purse and take it somewhere.

To give you some reference, I store my xTool M1 in a small closet, and I store the Glowforge Aura in a little nook next to a desk. Both laser cutters fit perfectly on this rolling craft cart (to be clear: I have a cart for each tool; two carts total).

The Glowforge Aura measures 20.5 x 22 x 5 inches and weighs 21 pounds.

The xTool M1 measures 22 x 18 x 9 inches and weighs 21.6 pounds.

Comparison Chart of Glowforge Aura & xTool M1

This is my first time making a chart like this on my blog! I hope it helps to see the comparison of these craft lasers in a scannable format.

	Glowforge Aura	xTool M1
Laser Price (at publication)	$1,199 USD	$1,099 USD
Optional Filter or Purifier Price (at publication)	$399.99	$799
Software Price	$0 for regular / $50 per month or $239 per year for premium	$0
Laser Type	Diode	Diode
Wattage / Power	6 watts	10 watts
Warranty	12 months standard. Unclear if extended warranty available for Aura.	12 months standard. Extended warranty (xTool Care) available for $89.99
Materials Differences	Only laser-safe vinyl	All vinyl when blade function is used
Ability to Engrave Cylindrical & Spherical Objects (like tumblers & rings)	No	Yes when additional RA2 Pro product is purchased ($319)
Machine Sizes	20.5 x 22 x 5 inches	22 x 18 x 9 inches
Inner Working Area	12″ x 12″	approximately 15″ x 12″
Cut Thickness	Up to 1/4″ thick	Up to 8mm (just over 1/4″) thick

Which Craft Laser is Best? Glowforge Aura or xTool M1

After working with both of these craft lasers for months and writing this post (which was a lot of work!), here’s my final decision: the best craft laser is the one that’s best for YOU.

I know, I know – you may be thinking that’s a cop out. But it’s the truth. You need to weigh the factors set out above and do your research, and decide which of these machines makes the most sense for your needs and/or wants.

For example, if you must have the ability to engrave cylindrical or spherical objects, then you should purchase the xTool M1 (and the RA2 Pro attachment). If you want to have the ability to work with longer objects, you should purchase the Glowforge Aura because of the passthrough feature.

Here’s one thing I’ll tell you though: don’t stress about it too much. I love both the Glowforge Aura and the xTool M1, and I don’t think you’d be disappointed with either if you do your research. Both companies offer great support if you have a problem, and the user communities are strong in forums like Facebook.

Thanks for reading my thoughts on these laser cutters, and please don’t hesitate to leave any comments or ask any questions!